One last reminder! I have a new blog!

Hey everyone!

Just wanted to update everyone here on this blog.

I have a new blog that I will be posting from because I finally got my own domain! I hope to see you guys and gals there!

My new website is at www.wanderhour.com

-Katherine Lou

new blog!

asos dress and target hat

Hello friends!! Just wanted to let you know that I have been updating from a new blog now so head over there for some updates! 

aloha katherine

Love,

Kat

aloha!

Aloha! Currently blogging from my newest home: the beautiful island of Hawai'i! Although I would love to blog from here, I figured that my new adventure in my newest home deserves a new blog. Although I am trying to settle in our new home, check my newest blog periodically: alohakatherine.blogspot.com  I promise to blog in the next few days! Mahalo and Hau'oli Makahiki Hou (Happy New Year)!

Seattle

Seattle; the city I knew I was going to fall in love with. For awhile now, I have always dreamed of going to Seattle. Not too long ago, I found flight deals from Long Beach to Portland for an amazing price of $55 one way. Because I couldn't find a $55 one way ticket back from Portland to Long Beach (at least a flight that was convenient for us), I decided to take the Bolt Bus up to Seattle. 

Anyway, we only had one full day in Seattle and I tried to make the most of it. We went to the Chihuly Garden and Glass (which has a very artistic view of the famous Space Needle). Beautiful place to visit (and I don't know too many of my friends who have visited). The Pike Place Market was my absolute favorite. Beautiful, and I mean BEAUTIFUL bouquets for only $5 (and $1 stem of dahlias!). Really looking forward to going back to Seattle in the near future. 

Looking forward to changing up my blog in the next few weeks. I've traveled quite a bit this year and I want to provide my advice and tips from all the places that I've been to. Just need to work it out soon. 

chicago 2013

Oh my. The last time I blogged on here was in June (and I said I was going to blog more often.... oops). Well anyway, while I was gone, I went to Chicago. My boyfriend had the last week of August off so we initially had planned to go to Maui. Change of plans and we ended up in Chicago instead. I've never been to Chicago and Chicago wasn't in our travel plans this year but I'm so glad we went there. It truly is a beautiful city, great food, and great people! Here's just a few photos of our trip. I'll upload more soon.

The boyfriend and I at the bean (Cloud Gate); my silhouette at Skydeck in the Willis Tower (Sears Tower); me at Cloud Gate wearing a $3 dress; somewhere near Michigan Ave.; Chi-Town

hawai'i photo diary

I'm starting to fall in love with the islands of Hawai'i (specifically the island of O'ahu). It has this city life that pleases my culinary taste buds and the shopping to please my style but the island also comes with a beach to watch the sun set in the horizon while the palm trees swaying and the waves are crashing. What more can you ask for? I've always declared my love for New York over Hawai'i but as the years have gone by, I'm slowly falling in love with this island. I guess my attitude with life has changed. I used to be this city girl, obsessed with being on time, always on the go, and a dress to impress attitude. But with life hectic as it is, you start to crave that peace, that slow paced lifestyle where you stop and appreciate the beauty around you. 

Having graduated with a bachelor's degree in business economics December 2012, I didn't know where to start. I didn't know what I want. A 9 day trip to Hawai'i was all I needed to make me realize what I want to do in life (or at least a taste of what I want). I want to see the world. I found so much beauty in Hawai'i that people otherwise would miss that I want to find beauty in places that I have yet to go to. With that said, I am missing Hawai'i terribly at the moment and another trip back to the islands is in the works. I am pushing for a small trip back to Honolulu but we will be visiting the island of Kauai. 

Well enough of that, I guess I should be talking about the photos huh? A view of Waikiki from Hawaiian Airlines flight; a little secret cove; a view of Lanikai Beach from a hike; Diamond Head and Waikiki from a park; Giovanni's shrimp truck in North Shore; the boyfriend and I at the park; life is good and it really is in Hawai'i; view from the rock in Waimea Bay; Lanikai Beach; me; and a sunset.

10

2003; 2013

The boyfriend and I celebrated our 10th year anniversary when we were in NY in January (is it really March already?!). It's crazy how time flies. In a few months, we will be heading to Europe for our very first Euro trip! Heading to Barcelona first where we will catch a cruise all over the Mediterranean! Once we're back in Barcelona, we will be taking a train to Paris to spend a few days eating macarons and falling in love in one of the most romantic cities in the world. So excited for tapas, sangria, Italian pizza, limoncello, gelati, macarons, and pastries. Also excited for Gaudi, Fontana di Trevi, Cinque Terre, Eiffel Tower, Versailles, Louvre, and so many amazing landmarks in Europe! 

Leopard

H&M coat, zara jeans, Steve Madden boots, and Marc by Marc Jacobs watch

I told you I was going to blog more! A photo from NY when the bf and I took a quick trip to the Highline. 

Central Park

Nordstrom cardigan, Zara dress, and Urban Outfitters boots

What I wore after lunch at Park Avenue Winter with the boyfriend. It was an unusually pleasant day in NY where this maroon cardigan was enough to keep me warm even when walking for about 30 blocks. Speaking of 30 blocks, the boots were a recent score from UO.... $29.99! Had the perfect heel height which made walking 30 blocks pain free and it is made of real leather! 

Street style in SoHo

Him: Uniqlo shirt, UO jacket, Levi's Jeans, & Cole Haan shoes 

Her: Zara dress, Nasty Gal coat, UO boots, & Marc by Marc Jacobs bag

The boyfriend and I went to New York City to celebrate our 10th year anniversary. Initially, we planned on going to Maui/Oahu, but the fact that we were in Oahu in August made us realized that NYC was our best option. To be honest, it came down to Ululani's shave ice in Maui or macarons from Laduree. Laduree won (though I think we would have saved a LOT of money had we went to Maui- can't bring shave ice back home). 

The trip was surprisingly short and the boyfriend got food poisoning towards the middle of the trip and the day before our anniversary. We had to cancel our reservations at Morimotos! Sucks but we're definitely looking forward to Europe especially since we're making a quick stopover back in NY to make up for our spectacular anniversary in our hotel room at the Eventi haha. 

2013

Hello world! It indeed has been a long time since I've blog..... since June? July? Oh my! It's a new year already and since then I've went to Hawai'i (again) and New York just last month and the boyfriend and I are finally going to Europe in 3 months (Paris, Rome, Venice, Barcelona, Naples, and other cities and countries). I've also officially graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Economics and have been off and on looking for a job (it's a bit overwhelming you know, growing up is intimidating and I doubt myself all the time- financial analyzing is scary). But expect more posts in the near future: old and new photos. 

Love, Kat

sights and tastes

A couple snapshots from my trip to Hawai'i. The views from Diamond Head was rewarding after an exhausting hike up to the top. Tiki torches scattered all over Waikiki light up at night. Very Hawaiian. An enormous pancake from Mac 24/7. If you've seen the show Man vs Food then you are familiar with this pancake. Food won and there were three of us eating it. The statue of Duke on Kalakaua. Tan tan ramen from Goma Tei; my favorite ramen EVER. Waikiki at night, so breezy. Our first taste of Hale'iwa. Such a refreshing change from the hectic (but not so hectic) city life of Honolulu. The road down to Waimea Bay where my friends jumped off the rock there. Looking through these photos makes me wish Hawai'i oh so much. Can not wait to go back!

peonies

Peonies are my favorite flowers everrrr. My boyfriend knows NOT to buy any other flowers but peonies. I want them for my wedding bouquet and centerpieces and also Laduree macarons which is irrelevant but who cares. For the longest, I didn't think I would be able to buy them here in California since they can't grow in our climate but I was surprise to find them at Trader Joe's! I have been buying new flowers every couple days since finding them and I will probably be buying them until they are no longer sold. They only bloom around May to June. Anyway, here's a photo that I took of them this week. This particular bouquet was HUGE compared to my first bouquet. My current bouquet is hot pink and not as big as this particular one. So beautiful!

instagram hawai'i

On our way to Hawai'i! This was taken a few hours before we landed.

Waikiki at sunset. So beautiful. I can never get tired of Hawaiian sunsets.

Rainbow from one of the hotel rooms. Saw so many rainbows on this trip.

A postcard that arrived a few days when we got back that one of my best friends who went with me to Hawai'i sent me while we were still there. She's too funny.

Another sunset/palm tree view of Waikiki from the beach. 

Super cute note that YSL sent me. Boyfriend bought my very first arty ring for my graduation present! I've been eyeing the ring for almost 2 years now and I am so thankful I have an amazing boyfriend who bought it for me because he knew I wanted it. Haven't worn it out yet, but I will very soon!

Hokulani Bake Shop cupcakes (red velvet, mango, and POG-passion fruit, orange, guava). They won an episode on Cupcake Wars. Surprisingly, my favorite flavor was red velvet (go figure) but all the other flavors were delicious.

Hanging out at the beach in Waikiki.

The living room of the wonderful beach house we rented for a couple days! It was a four bedroom, two bathroom house with the ocean as our backyard. I had so much fun staying in this house with 7 other amazing people. We made a ton of memories.

Breakfast made by my friend Alice while we were staying at the beach house: macadamia nut pancakes topped with bananas and coconut syrup, applies, and potatoes. So good! Inspired me to start cooking at home more. You can make delicious food without spending a fortune!

Heading back home to LA. A photo that I took when we took off. You can see Diamond Head crater and to the left is Waikiki. One of my favorite photos that I took on the trip. After an amazing vacation, the boyfriend and I decided to go back in a few months.... hence why I will be blogging more. We will see you soon Hawai'i! I have a ton of photos to post still just have yet to transfer it onto my MacBook. Have a wonderful weekend bloggers!